You’ve probably been there. You’re sitting at a campfire in the heart of Roanoke Ridge, shoving prime beef joint and chocolate bars down Arthur Morgan’s throat like there’s no tomorrow. You check the player menu. Underweight. You eat more. You sleep. You check again. Still underweight. It’s frustrating because, for the first five chapters of Red Dead Redemption 2, the weight system is a fairly logical—if slightly tedious—mechanic. But suddenly, the rules change. There's a very specific reason why you can't gain weight in Chapter 6 RDR2, and it isn't a bug.
It’s a death sentence.
Rockstar Games is famous for attention to detail, but in RDR2, they went a step further by tying the core RPG mechanics directly to the narrative's tragic arc. If you’re trying to beef up Arthur to his former glory during the final stretch of the game, you’re fighting against a scripted physiological decline. Arthur is sick. Very sick. And no amount of Big Game Meat is going to fix the holes in his lungs.
The Tuberculosis Mechanic: Why the Scale Won't Budge
Once Arthur collapses in Saint Denis and receives that grim diagnosis from the doctor, the game shifts. This isn't just a cutscene beat; it's a permanent debuff.
Specifically, Arthur is suffering from Tuberculosis (TB). In the late 19th century, this was often called "consumption" because it literally consumed the body from the inside out. Rockstar translated this into the game by capping Arthur’s weight. During Chapter 6, Arthur's maximum possible weight is significantly lowered. Even if you spend several real-world hours force-feeding him, the game will essentially "floor" his stats.
His face becomes gaunt. His eyes sink. His skin takes on a pale, sickly gray hue. This is a visual representation of his core drain. In Chapter 6, your cores drain roughly 20% faster than they did in the early game. Because your cores are constantly depleting, Arthur is constantly burning through whatever calories you manage to get into him. It’s a losing battle.
The Math Behind the Malady
Most players don't realize that RDR2 operates on a hidden calorie counter. To gain weight in the early game, you need to hit a certain threshold of "points" before sleeping or fast traveling. In Chapter 6, the game applies a massive multiplier to your calorie burn.
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Arthur’s metabolism in the final chapter is essentially broken. Even if you manage to briefly see the "Average" weight rating through extreme effort, it will almost immediately tick back down to "Underweight" or "Minimum" after a single mission. You're trying to fill a bucket that has no bottom.
The Symptoms You Can't Ignore
It’s not just about the numbers in the menu. The gameplay itself changes to reflect why you can't gain weight in Chapter 6 RDR2. Have you noticed the coughing fits?
If you eat too much at once in Chapter 6, Arthur will often break into a violent coughing fit. This isn't just flavor text. It actually prevents you from eating more for a short period. The game is physically stopping you from "power-leveling" his health.
- Stamina Drain: Your stamina core drains faster, making long sprints or climbs nearly impossible without tonics.
- Health Recovery: Your health recovery rate is slashed.
- Food Effectiveness: Provisions that used to give you a "Great" boost now only provide a "Moderate" or "Small" boost.
It’s depressing. Honestly, it’s meant to be. Rockstar wants you to feel Arthur’s mortality. They want you to feel the weight of his actions (literally) as he nears the end of his journey.
Is it Even Possible to Stay "Fit"?
Technically? No. Not in the way you could in Chapter 2.
Some players on Reddit and various forums have claimed they managed to keep Arthur at "Average" weight by eating exclusively Seasoned Big Game Meat and sleeping in hotels every night. But even then, the visual model remains thin. The game swaps Arthur's character model for a "Sick" version that has different bone structures visible in the face. No matter what the "Weight" stat says, Arthur will look like he's dying because, narratively, he is.
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Debunking the Glitch Myths
For years, people thought the inability to gain weight was a bug. I've seen countless "fixes" suggested online.
"Just delete your cache!"
"Drink only moonshine!"
"It's a glitch with the Legend of the East satchel!"
None of that is true. It’s a deliberate design choice. If you could keep Arthur looking like a prize-winning bodybuilder while he’s dying of a respiratory disease, the emotional weight of the story would vanish. The "glitch" is actually just high-level storytelling.
The only "workaround" is using mods on the PC version to force a different character model or to freeze the weight value, but that breaks the immersion. If you're playing on console, you just have to live with it.
How to Manage Arthur's Health in Chapter 6
Since you know you can't get him back to being a "Chonky Arthur," your goal should change from gaining weight to maintaining cores. You aren't trying to make him healthy; you're trying to keep him functional.
- Prioritize Seasoned Big Game Meat. The minty, oregano, and thyme variations provide gold cores. Even if Arthur stays skinny, those gold cores will give you the edge you need in the heavy combat sequences of Chapter 6.
- Special Health Cures. Stop relying on food for health. Start crafting Potent or Special Health Cures. Since food is less effective for Arthur now, liquid tonics are your best friend.
- Don't Overeat. It sounds counterintuitive, but don't waste your expensive provisions. Since you can't actually gain the weight, just eat enough to keep the cores from being red.
- The Wolf Man / Trinkets. If you have the Owl Feather Trinket (obtained by completing "Archeology for Beginners" without killing anyone), it helps reduce the speed of core drainage. This is a lifesaver in the final chapters.
The Narrative Brilliance of the "Underweight" Status
Why did Rockstar do this? It's about empathy.
In most games, your character is a static god. You get stronger, faster, and better as the game goes on. RDR2 flips the script. As the stakes get higher and the enemies get tougher, Arthur gets weaker. You feel his struggle in your thumbs. When you're trying to win a fistfight in Chapter 6, and you're gasping for air while your stamina bar flashes red, you aren't just playing a game—you're experiencing Arthur's desperation.
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The fact that you can't gain weight in Chapter 6 RDR2 serves as a constant, nagging reminder that time is running out. It forces you to stop focusing on the "survival sim" aspects of the game and start focusing on the "Redemption" part of the title.
What You Should Do Instead of Feeding Arthur
Stop hunting for food. Start hunting for closure.
If you're stuck in Chapter 6 and frustrated by the weight system, the best thing you can do is lean into the story. Do the side missions for Charlotte Balfour up at Willard’s Rest. Help the veteran, Hamish Sinclair. These missions feel different when Arthur is in this state. They aren't about getting rewards; they're about Arthur trying to do one last good thing before he can't do anything at all.
Key Takeaways for Chapter 6 Survival:
- Accept the "Underweight" status; it's hard-coded and narrative-driven.
- Focus on Gold Cores via seasoned meats rather than trying to increase the weight stat.
- Use Tonics (Miracle Tonics and Health Cures) as your primary source of "healing" since food efficiency is nerfed.
- The visual change is permanent. Arthur’s gaunt face is part of the Chapter 6 character model.
Basically, stop stressing about the scale. Arthur’s journey isn't about physical strength anymore; it's about his moral legacy. The game wants you to feel thin, tired, and pushed to the brink. So, take that Seasoned Big Game Meat, keep your cores gold, and finish the story. It’s supposed to hurt.
Next Steps for Players:
If you want to maximize Arthur's effectiveness despite his illness, focus on completing the Streets of Saint Denis mission to unlock the best tonics at the Doctor, and ensure you've hunted the Legendary Animals that provide trinkets for slower core drainage. Specifically, the Cougar Tooth Trinket and Elk Antler Trinket will help mitigate the TB debuffs.